In August 2019, the Department of Homeland Security extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrian beneficiaries until March 31, 2021. Now is the time for these beneficiaries to re-register and apply to extend their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).

On September 23, 2019, Syrian re-registration instructions were published in the Federal Register. All applicants who wish to extend their status through March 31, 2021 must re-register and apply for renewal of EADs by November 22, 2019.

Recognizing that beneficiaries may not receive new EADs before their old ones expire, EADs will be automatically extended for Syrian nationals through March 28, 2020 as long as applicants have timely re-registered and applied for renewal. While TPS extension for Syrian nationals was not unexpected, the Trump Administration has recently sought to restrict or terminate TPS for citizens of other countries, which attempts are the subject of ongoing litigation, and it opted not to request TPS for Bahamian nationals in the Dorian aftermath.

If you have any questions about the application of these rules or how to complete Form I-9s for TPS beneficiaries, Jackson Lewis attorneys are available to assist you. To review employment authorization for all TPS beneficiaries, please click here to access our TPS tool.